Cut-out and switch.



J. J. BUERO.

CUT-OUT AND SWITCH. APFLIQATION FiLED APR. 21. 1914.

1,168,247. Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

N g n WITNESSES .lA/VE/VTOR M O a/77V 51/5/70 JOHN J. BUEIRO, OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

: our-our Ann swI'roH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11,1916.

A man filed April 21,1914. Serial No. 833,336.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN J. BUERO, a citizen of the United'States, and a resident of Charleston, in the county of Charleston and State of South Carolina, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Cut-Outs.

andSwitches, of which the following is a specification.

out switches, and has for its object to provide' a switch ofthe character specified,

especially adapted for use between high tension conductors and buildings, wherein mechanism is provided in connection with the switch forpreven'ting over charging of the wiring of the building in case of break downs or improper action of the transformers, the said mechanism-being so arranged that an increase of voltage above a predetermined point will operate the said mechanism to disconnect the wiring of the building and to shunt the current to ground.

. In the drawingsz-Figure 1 is a front.

view of the improved switch, Figs. '2 and 4 are sections on the lines 2,-2, and 44, re.-'

spectively, of Fig. 1, looking in. the direction of the arrows adjacent to the line, and big. 3 is a rear view.

The present embodiment of the invention comprises a base 1 of insulating material,

" as for instanceglass, porcelain, hard rubber or the like, the base being adapted for at-' tachment to a iixed support at a suitable point,-and the base is provided'wit' the usual openings 3 for receiving screws or the like to hold the same to the support. Binding posts 2 and 2 are arranged at one end of the base, for engagement b lead wires service wires of the house circuit or system;

connected with the supply wires for the current. Other binding posts 4 and 4 are arrange at the opposite ends of the base, the said posts being spaced apart laterally from eachother, and registering with the posts 2 and 2 at the other end, and the'posts 4 and 4 are adapted for connection v with the Fuse plugs 7 and 7 of usual construction are mounted on the base, adjacent to the posts 2 and, 2, and each fuse plug is connected to the adjacent binding post 2 or 2 by means of conducting strips 8 and 8*, the said strips being secured atone end to the binding post and being connected at the other to the adjacent fuse plug..

A double pole single throw switch is provided for connecting. the binding posts and 4 with the spring contact plateswhich-- in turn are connectedwith the fus'e' "plugs.

The switch consists of the usual cross bar 9 of insulating material, as for instance hard rubber or the like, and provided interhandle is connected with the'arms 11 and 11 My invention is an improvement 'in cut of the switch. Each-arm 11 and ll is connected tothe adjacent binding post 4 or 4*, by means of the connections 12 and 12 onthe'switch board, the said connections being connected to the binding posts by conducting strips 13 and 13. v

Each switch arm is pivoted between the strips or contact plates of the connection 12 or 12*, and each of the said arms is adapted to move between a pair of spring contact plates '14 or 14 at the end adjacent to the fuse plugs, to connect the binding post 4 or 4 to the fuse plug. Each pair of contact plates 14 and 14 is connected to the adjacent fuse plug by a conducting strip 15qor 15 as the case maybe, the said strips beingarhanged on the under side of the base, as shown in Fig. 3, and preferably the strips15 and. 15 are arranged in recesses, which may be filled with an insulating plastic compoundcapable of hardening.

The attachment comprises a strip 16 of ond strip 19 is arranged longitudinally of the base between the switch arms, and the strip 19 is connected at one end to the strip 16 at approximately the center thereof. The connection may be made by means of a rivet, as shown at 2'0,'and the opposite end of the strip19 is connected. to a binding post 21, which "isconnect'e'd with suitable ground, by means. of a lead wire 22.

The ground wire should be connected to the ground in the usual manner. Intermediate the ends of the strip 19 a screw bolt- 23 is passed upwardly through the base, and

- the said bolt passes through'an opening in the strip 19, andis engaged by a thumb nut 24 above the strip. That end of the strip strip and the base plate, the plate or block acting normally to hold the free end of the strip out of contact witl'rthe base plate.

Under ordinary conditions, without the attachment, constituted by the strips 16 and 19 and connected parts, should there be a break down in the transformer, there would be the ,house wiring carrying 2,000 volts from the supply wires, and if there were no trouble or defect in the wiring of the building this high voltage would be ready for the-first person who should touch the wiring, and would probably kill such person immediately. \Vere there bad Wiring or def' ots on the house circuit, the current would ossibly set fire to the house. With. the attachment, however, the high voltage would perforate the mica plate or the block 25, and

the current would pass by way of the strip l6 and the strip 13) to the binding post 21, and by way of the ground wire 22 thus protecting the house wiring. Vere the-binding post 2], not connected to the. ground, the

high voltage would cause the current to perforate the mica plate, and the fuse would blow out in the usual manner.

The device acts with or without the ground wire, the ground wire, however, furnishing an additional protection.

The improved switch is grounded at one side of the circuit, thus combining a lightning arrester with a permanent ground on one side of the circuit. This arrangement complies with the rules of the National Board oi Fire Underwriters.

1. In combination with a cut out switch, comprising an insulating'base, and pairs of binding posts at the opposite ends of the base for connection. with the supply wires, and the service wires respectively, a double pole single throw switch connected with the binding posts for the service wires, pairs of spring contact plates for engagement by the switch, said contact plates being connected with the adjacent binding posts of the first-named pair, and the switch being provided for connecting the last-named plugs t'lopies of this patent is offset up-' binding posts with the, contact plates, a fuse plug arranged between each of the firstnamed binding posts and the adjacent pair of contact plates for the switch, and a protecting device for shunting an excess of current above a predetermined voltage from one pair of contact plates to the other or to the ground, and adapted to be brought into operation by the excess in voltage, said device comprising a conducting strip de-. tachahly connected with one pair of contact plates, and normally adapted to contact at the other end with the other pair, a plate of mi a arranged between the strip and the said last named pair, and means tor tensioning the pressure of the strip, said means comprising a second contact strip arranged longitudinally of the base and connected at one end to the first-named strip intermediate its ends, a binding post on the base for connection with a ground wire to which the other end oi. the last named strip is connected, and a set screw in connection with the base and engaging the last-named strip to vary the tension thereof.

2. In combination with a cut out switch, comprising an insulating base, and pairs of binding posts at the opposite ends of the base for connection with the supply wires, and the service wires respectively, a double pole single throwswitch connected with the binding posts for the service wires, pairs of spring contact plates for engagement by the switch, said contact plates being connected with the adjacent binding posts of the firstnamed pair, and the switch being provided for connecting the last-named binding posts with the contact plates, a fuse plug arranged between each 01'? the tirst-named binding posts and the adjacent pair of contact plates for the switch, and a protecting device for shunting an excess of current above a predetermined voltage from one pair of contact plates to the other or to the ground, and adapted to be brought into operation by the excess in voltage, said device comprising a conducting strip detachably connected with one pair of contact plates, and normally adapted to contact at the other end with the other pair, a plate of mica arranged between the strip and the said last named pair, and neans for tensioning the pressure of the strip.

JOHN J. BUERO. llitnesses:

DicRniEL I. MYERS, I G. M. S'riclnznyi may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Conunissioner oglf Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

